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THE . OLD . FALLS . HOUSE. 

LOCATED AT NEW WINDSOR, NEAR NEWBURGH, N . Y. 

COLLECTION of pen sketches made in and around 
the old building on Sunday, the fourteenth of January, 
nineteen hundred fourteen, a few days previous to its 

de^rudion by fire. Drawn by Sid Turner, Newburgh Journal Staff 

Artist. 




Copyright 1915 

Published by Wm. M. Stanbrough 

Newburgh, New York 



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DEC 28 1915 ©aA4]77nn 







Tlie object of this l)ook is not to 
give a history of the Fall's House, 
or as formally known, the "Hermit- 
age," but merely to presei've a seiu- 
blance of the exterior and interior 
of the old l)uilding as it was at the 
time of its destruetion. Tlie many 
beautiful and quaint bits of Colonial 
workmanship, sketched at random 
by the artist will serve their pur])ose, it is lioped, now and for futui'o 

WM. M. STANBBOUOH. 




generations 



Gov. Gcorgo Clinton's IToadriuartors, Xow Windsor, near Xcw- 
Inn-gh, N. Y. Gen. Clinton's lottors dated at Mrs. Fall's 0<'t.. 1777, a.-- 
eounts for this house bein" called the "Fall's House." 




The Falls House 
1720—1914 



"THE HERMITAGE" 
Headquarters of Gen. (jeorge Clinton— 1777— 1782-83 



West ontraiuo to l'\-iirs Tionsp. "Thronj;h this door ruore Conti- 
nental officers nnd soldiers i)assfd than throiif;;h any door in the Thir- 
ti'cii Colonies." This house was an Inn. 




Falls House — West Entrance 



South end oldest portion. The small building being a Smoke 
House connected with Fireplace in house for convenience of disposal of 
ashes. Built about 1720. 










Falls House— South View, Smoke House Attached 




Tlie Kitchen luobably bnilt as early as 1719, 
jioosibly earlier, the Inulder did his work Avell. 
Riiskin says, "That old buildings do not en- 
tirely beloni,' to the present but those that build 
them, even though }iassed away, have rights in 
tlieni that should ))e resjieeted." This kitchen, 
to the thinking mind, is a thing alive, "the Hames that uji the chimney 
roared." again are felt, — the oven in which tlie lire of willow sticks was 
kindled again burns as brightly, the odor of the broad and i)ies smell as 
good in imagination as of yore, — the stone hearth that alnu>st becomes 
a stone floor, so large is it, speaks of the days of utility, before show 
became the fashion. 

The door with the wooden hinges s])eaks as strongly of utility, tlie 
making the best of means at hand. Note the widtli of l)oard in door 
and remember that the tree from which it was cut grew in the innnedi- 
ate vi<'inity. 

••The Ahum, the Struggle, the Relief 
'i'hen sice] I we side by side." 

— Tjongfellow. 








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Kitchen of Falls Hoiir,o — Door with Wooden Hinffes 




S for thf old cellar it is porliaps one ol' tlie most inter- 
esting ]iarts of tho old building, having remained un- 
touched for over a century. The rough hewn beams 
overhead, tlie open lire jdace and flagged floor, togeth- 
er with the treadwheel churn for dog or slu'C]) power, 
gave the place a real air of Colonial days. 




Falls House, Slaves Kitchen— Treadwheei to Furnish Power to Opei'iite Churn 



Window in Slaves' Kitchen. Beams support room occupied by 
Oen. George Washington. 




Falls House— Window in Slaves Kitchen 




Falls House — Window in Washington's Room 




Falls House— Closets in Clinton's Room 



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